Netanyahu vows to extract 'heavy price' for missile attack by Houthi rebels

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation on Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels after they successfully launched a missile into central Israel on Sunday for the first time.
He issued a stern warning to the Houthis saying, "They should know by now that any attempt to harm us will be met with a heavy price."
The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attack, with their military spokesman Yahya Sarea saying that the missile, a new hypersonic ballistic type, travelled 2,040 kilometres (1,270 miles) in just 11 and a half minutes.
Initially, Israel’s military reported that the missile had fallen in an open area, but later clarified that it likely fragmented in midair, with parts of the interceptors landing in fields and near a railway station. No injuries were reported.
Air raid sirens blared across Tel Aviv and central Israel at approximately 6:35 am local time (0335 GMT), sending residents scrambling for cover. Loud explosions were heard, and smoke was seen rising from a field in central Israel, according to Reuters.
Referring to Israel’s air strike in July on the Yemeni port of Hodeida in retaliation for a Houthi drone that hit Tel Aviv, Netanyahu added, "Whoever needs a reminder is invited to visit the Hodeida port."
Previous attacks by Houthi missile strikes had not penetrated far into Israeli airspace. The most significant prior incident occurred in March, when a missile landed in an open area near the Red Sea port of Eilat. Sunday’s attack marks the first time the Houthis have reached central Israel.
Israel should expect more strikes in the future "as we approach the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 operation, including responding to its aggression on the city of Hodeidah," Sarea said.
The deputy head of the Houthi's media office, Nasruddin Amer, said in a post on X on Sunday that the missile had reached Israel after "20 missiles failed to intercept" it, describing it as the "beginning".
Israel’s military reported that approximately 40 missiles were fired from Lebanon toward Israel on Sunday. Most were intercepted, with others landing in open areas, and no injuries were reported.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel since the Gaza war began in October, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians. In July, a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed one person and wounded four others. In response, Israeli air strikes targeted Houthi military sites near Hodeida, killing six and injuring 80.